Black Library Weekly: Three More for the Hype Train

Out of nowhere this past week an article landed on Warhammer Community with not one Black Library reveal, but three of them. Three new books in the coming weeks and months ahead!

While I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, it did occur to me shortly after that we'd only recently had the Warhammer Summer Preview Show less than a month ago. Why not add a little sizzle to the steak and feature one or more of these on there? After all, the Black Library was definitely in the frame as they announced the upcoming Scouring series.

But who am I kidding, I'm gonna read them one way or the other so let's jump right in and take a look!

First up is Krakenblood by Marc Collins. Collins had his first novel in the Warhammer Crime imprint with 2021's Grim Repast, and just last year penned Eidolon: The Auric Hammer. Back in 2023 he had the short story The Price of Morkai included as part of that December's Digital Advent Calendar Subscription, which was then reprinted in last year's superb Blood of the Imperium anthology (reviewed here).

The Price of Morkai introduced us to Ivar Krakenblood, a Wolf Priest of the Space Wolves, and Ivar will be returning for the full-length novel treatment.

Image credit: Games Workshop

Next up is Jonathan D. Beer's Tomb World, a new story of Necron treachery and redemption. Beer's most recent Black Library work was the Adeptus Mechanicus-focused Dominion Genesis, which only recently was released in paperback form (we reviewed it here). The Necrons made a small but impactful appearance in that story, and it will be exciting to see what Beer can do with them when they're given center stage.

Image credit: Black Library

Finally, another recent short-story debutant is featuring in an upcoming novel as Mike Vincent's The Remnant Blade gives us more of Dalchian Rassaq, the Skin-Taker. Rassaq was introduced in Blades of Atrocity, a short story included in last April's Heretic Astartes Week (and also reviewed by us). This will be Vincent's first novel for the Black Library.

No word yet on release dates for these, or whether or not they will be offered in limited edition treatments. Still, something to look forward to!

Image credit: Games Workshop

Up for Preorder

Jumping into the time machine for a minute, let's go way back in time aallllll the way to, well... this past May the 7th. That was the last time we had a big reveal on Warhammer Community about upcoming Black Library books as Gary Kloster's Queen of the Rose Throne, the anthology Paragon of Faith and Other Stories, Voidscarred by Mike Brooks, and Abraxia: Spear of the Everchosen were unveiled.

Since that time, the first two of the four have been released. Now, Abraxia is joining their number- and in a beautiful Limited Edition as well. It's the same "Characters series" layout we last saw in Age of Sigmar with Ushoran: Mortarch of Delusion (reviewed here), and features an author's introduction in addition to the visual treats.

It's written by Chris Thursten, who we last saw with Grombrindal: Ancestor's Burden and Darkoath, and if it follows the same timeframe that Ushoran did then you can expect a regular (non-limited) hardcover release about four weeks after this one.

Kilroy Was Here

Here's a random treat. Black Library reader Jack Robson was strolling through his local Waterstones (a UK bookseller) and found some author graffiti in the stairwell. Notice anyone familiar?

Image credit: Jack Robson

Image credit: Jack Robson

ICYMI

Strap in, what a week we had for Black Library content! First, we were excited to unveil a new occasional series here at Goonhammer, Black Library Bibliophiles. For many of us our passion for the Black Library goes well beyond just he written word and printed page. We collect, we assemble, we display. If you like discovering the rare and exclusive, if you enjoy seeing magnificently-curated collections and libraries, this is the column for you.

Here's our kickoff article, where I look at the Ahriman: Exile Mega Limited Edition as well as connect with a collector who owns one of the holiest of Black Library grails. Let me know what you think!

Of course, book reviews are just as near and dear to our hearts as ever, and this week Lenoon popped open the hood and had a look at Graham McNeill's Forges of Mars trilogy. Lenoon's terrific at taking a long-lens critical look at the works of the Black Library, having recently done so for both Aaron Dembski-Bowden's Night Lords Trilogy and the Dark Coil series from Peter Fehervari.

In the podcast world, the Fluffenhammer lads dive in on Warhammer Monthly issue #9. I've been enjoying taking a closer look at these in our History of the 40K Black Library series, but this is a really close look at Daemonifuge, the Dwarf Lords, and everything else packed into those illustrated pages.

Meanwhile, Arbiter Ian and Mira Manga cover Gaunt's Ghosts "in their Disney period," looking at The Guns of Tanith in their latest. Over at the WH40K Book Club, Jen and Keri give their very candid thoughs on Void Exile, the latest Carcharodons book from Robbie MacNiven. You might recall our own Falcon gave a review of that here recently as well.

Finally, Warhammer Community debuted the latest in its series of flash fictions this week returning to the 40K universe. Heroes of the First Founding- The Drake and the Hydra is exactly what it sounds like, a perfect bite-sized bit of adventure featuring the Salamanders against a Chaos cult coven. It may or may not feature an uncredited cameo by Alpharius._1,2,3,4

Image credit: Aconyte Books

Quick Hits

Sarah Cawkwell (Valkia the Bloody, Silver Skulls: Portents) revealed the cover for her upcoming novel Thunder's Edge: Echoes of Memory. Set in the Twilight Imperium universe. For the past few years Aconyte Books has been publishing a slow drop of novels in the rich setting of the board game, and the murderer's row of talent she is joining is stellar. Aconyte- which publishes tie-in media for a number of properties including Legend of the Five Rings, Assassin's Creed, and Arkham Horror- has published works from familiar names such as David Annandale (Yarrick: The Omnibus, Callis & Toll), Amanda Bridgeman (Paragon of Faith, Reconsecration), Evan Dicken (Shade of Khaine, Lioness of the Parch), Jonathan Green (Conquest of Armageddon, Iron Hands), David Guymer (Angron: The Red Angel, Lion El'Jonson: Lord of the First), Robbie MacNiven (Red Tithe, Oaths of Damnation), Josh Reynolds (Lukas the Trickster, Neferata), James Swallow (Nemesis, Deus Incarmine), Danie Ware (The Triumph of Saint Katherine, The Rose in Darkness), CL Werner (Witch Hunter, Briardark), and more!
2025's DragonCon's Dragon Award nominees have been announced, and there are some familiar names in there as well. Ian Green (The Reservoir of Rot, Doomwheel) is up for Best Science Fiction Novel for Extremophile, while The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston (Faith in Iron) is contending for Best Fantasy Novel. Best of luck to them both!
James Swallow (Faith & Fire, The Flight of the Eisenstein) was interviewed this week in the pages of Vortex Magazine for his work on the upcoming V UK audio drama. Yes, that V, but we're assured no guinea pigs were harmed during its recording.
Finally, if you're looking for a nice read today John French (The Ahriman Omnibus, Praetorian of Dorn) has a new short story up on his website, Walkers of the Lost Road. Check it out, and make sure to sign up for his newsletter while you're there.

Writers Are Fans, Too

While I’ll never scorn an author making an honest living selling the fruits of their imagination, I take an extra degree of satisfaction knowing how many of the writers whose stories and words populate the shelves of the Black Library are genuine Warhammer fans first, and Black Library writers second. Here’s a few who shared that love this week.

So it's one thing to go to Warhammer World for a rousing game of Horus Heresy, only to get rolled harder than a pack of Interex picking the wrong Luna Wolves to mess with. That's fandom. But then to make a video commemorating it? That's passion, and that's what Justin D. Hill (Minka Lesk: The Last Whiteshield, The Bookkeeper's Skull) did recently after being on the receiving end of a patricidal stomping.

The smile before the storm. Image credit: Justin D. Hill

Meanwhile, Mark Latham (Kovos Falls, Judgement) showed off some work he'd done for old school Warhammer. Raise a brew ~~for~~ with Bugman!

Image credit: Mark Latham

Image credit: Mark Latham

Of course, if obliterating the enemies of humanity is more your vibe, Guy Haley (Genefather, Valedor) has got you covered with some terrific Titans.

Image credit: Guy Haley

Coming Attractions

Here’s a list of the date-set upcoming releases from the Black Library based on the available preorder information we have. As always, take all of this with a grain of salt unless it’s Games Workshop-confirmed.

Going forward, this section will be updated weekly in this column. Any titles that are announced but without a date will be added once a date is assigned it, and anything highlighted in green is something just added (or updated) this week.

2025

Broken Crusade, by Stephen B. Fischer (paperback, 8/12) (review)
Grey Knights: The Omnibus, by Ben Counter (paperback, 8/12)
The Lords of Silence: Illustrated and Annotated Edition, by Chris Wraight (hardcover, 8/23)
Final Deployment, by R S Wilt (paperback, 8/23)
The High Kâhl’s Oath, by Gav Thorpe (paperback, 8/23) (review)
The End and the Death: Volume III, by Dan Abnett (paperback, 8/26) (review 1, 2)
The Legend of Sigmar, by Graham MacNeill (paperback, 9/9)
Ciaphas Cain: The Anthology, by Sandy Mitchell (paperback, 9/23)
The Twice-Dead King: The Omnibus, by Nate Crowley (paperback, 9/23)
Elemental Council, by Noah Van Nguyen (paperback, 10/7) (review)
Morvenn Vahl: Spear of Faith, by Jude Reid (paperback, 10/21)
Double Eagle, by Dan Abnett (paperback, 11/18)
Death and Duty, by Steve Lyons (paperback, 11/20)
Interceptor City, by Dan Abnett (paperback, 11/18) (review)
Hell’s Last, by Justin D. Hill (paperback, 12/16)

2026

Farsight: Blade of Truth, by Phil Kelly (paperback, 1/27)
Fulgrim: The Perfect Son, by Jude Reid (paperback, 1/27) (review)
The Shattered and the Soulless, by Graham McNeill (paperback, 1/27)
Vaults of Terra: The Omnibus, by Chris Wraight (paperback, 1/27)
Siege of Terra: The Shattered and the Soulless, by Graham McNeill (paperback, 1/29)
Huron Blackheart: Master of the Maelstrom, by Mike Brooks (paperback, 3/10)
The Green Tide, by Mike Brooks, Nate Crowley, and Justin Woolley (paperback 3/26)
Carnage Unending, by Dan Abnett (paperback, 4/26)

Footnotes

Maybe.
Possibly.
Let's be honest, we'll really never know.
And if we did, it's only because he wanted us to.

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